Reversible clutching mechanism



March 2 3, 194s; A. MESSEN y I REVERSIBLE CLUTCHING yMECl-IANISM Filed Aug. 17., 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet? IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 23., 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,438,216 REVERSIBLE cLU'rcHiNc. MECHANISM Arnold H. essen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 17, 1943, Serial No. 498,932

Claims. 1

This invention is an enhancement over the invention revealed in applicants Patent Number 2,289,019, issued July 7, 1942, and embodies some of the features disclosed therein.

The invention herein disclosed concerns means and methods for quietly and shocklessly transferring power from one shaft to another coupled with means for reversing the rotation of the driven shaft in a simple and practical manner. The exibility and smooth running of such power transfer means is of utmost importance with present day machines regardless of the particuiar kind or type thereof. The invention comprises a unit suitable for insertion between any primary power delivery device and the thing to be driven, at any speed in forward direction or in reverse direction. The unit, for example, may be employed between the engine of an automobile and the transmission thereof, the drive shaft of the engine entering the unit at one point and a countershaft emerging at another for connection with the impeller shaft of the transmission, or the countershaft itself may be extended and used directly as the impeller shaft of the transmission mechanism.

The invention comprises a series of locking and releasingsteps until the final locking step is accomplished, the means for carrying out the necessary steps embracingy movable plungers, pawls, and rollers which transfer power at certain predetermined degrees of torque in a rapid but gentle procession, and the means for making such results possible may be built around the drive shaft of the unit or the countershaft of the unit, but it is preferred to build the means around the drive shaft for forward driving or reverse driving of the counter shaft.

` One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a means and method for transferring power from one shaft to another with the least arnountof shock and noise for forward and reverse operation of the driven shaft.

Another object is to provide a new and novel type of'power transfer unit that is economical to make and manufacture, sturdy in construction, and dependable of operation under all practical uses.

Other objects, advantages and features oi.' my invention will appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, the

(ci. 74--377i Y f VZA preamble of these specifications and the ap pended claims'. Y

Applicant is about to illustrate and describe one of the forms of his invention in order to teach one how to make and use the saine, but it is to be understood that the drawings` and description thereof are not to limit the invention in anysense whatsoever, except as limited by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l-is a Vertical cross sectional view of the invention with parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right hand side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of' aV portion of Fig. l', showing an idler gear and its support. v

Fig. 4 is a portion of Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line 4 4 thereof. f

Fig. 5 is also a portion of Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line .5 5 thereof.

Fig.'6 is an elevational view of a spacer ring.

Fig 7 is an inverted plan View of Fig. 6.'

Fig. 8 is an elevational View of a plunger.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8.

The parts of this particular form ofthe invention are housed in a shell or casing comprising. a central cylinder I, supporting rear end frame 2, rear end cover 3, front supporting end framel, and front end cover 5. The top portions of the cylinder I and the front supporting frame, where they join, have extensions 6 and '1,` respectively, and the lower portions of the front end cover has an extension 8; these extensions are shown as broken away, but they forma front chamber indicated at 9 for housing a fly wheel, starter equipment, etc., Vnot shown, which are generally associated with engines and the like. v

Extending through and across the top portion ofk the chamber 2 within the shell is a drive shaft I0 or an extension of the drive shaft of `the flywheel in the front chamber 9. In the lower portion of the chamber 2' is a driven shaft or countershaft Il, this shaft usually being or connecting with the impeller shaft in the rearward end of the engine, not shown. Since the mechanism at the rearward and forward ends ofthe housing or shell form no part in this present invention, their showing or description is believed not necessary nor desired. This particular arrangement of the invention is combined and used with a marine engine, the shaft I leading to the forward engine through a fly wheel, and the shaftV I I leading to the propeller unit at the stern of a boat.

The drive shaft l is journalled at the front of the device by the ball bearing unit I2 and at the rear by the ball bearing unit I3, these units being securely supported in their respective supporting frames li land 2, as shown. The shaft Il) terminates in a reduced section Id which is threaded and receives the lock nut I5. The shaft has an axial elongated bore I6 which provides a bearing surface for a control rod assembly` Il.v This rod assembly has the stem I8, enlarged guide or head portion comprising the spaced apart cam elements I9 and 20, and an intermediate reduced portion or low portion 2|, the reduced portion rising from its ends at a predetermined angle of incline to merge with the peripheral surfaces of the elements le and 20, as shown.l At the other end of the stem, is a guide head 22 which snugly rides in the bore I6, a portion thereof being res. duced to receive the ball bearing unit 23, and another reduced portion that is threadedto receive the nut 2li for holding the bearing unit onto the end of the control rod. An extended rody 25 passes through a packing gland 26, which may be of any suitable type, and which gland isembodied in a cup-like cover 21 that snugly fits a reduced protruding portion of the front end cover plate 3. The inner end of this `extended rod 2,5 is xed to a cup-like coupler 28 which hasY an annular shoulder to engage the rear end ofthe bearing 23, the front end of the bearing being held fixed to the front end of the coupler by-an expansion or snap ring 29, as shown. The other end of the extended rod is provided with a re. duced portion 30 to be engaged by a shifting fork orany Vsuitable mechanism for reciprocating the rod assembly I1 for the purposes to be later ex,-

plained.

The central portion of the drive shaft I is serratedV to provide a seriesV of keyways IiIJ'l surrounding the shaft to :accommodate registering keys If upon the inner periphery of a centrally disposed spacer ring or `flange-like element 3|. Abutting frusto-conical drums 32 and 33 are positioned at the sides of the spacer ring. The spacer ring is held in axial position by side snap rings 34 which snugly i-lt into annular grooves about the shaft. The flange-like element or spacer ring 3|, see Figs. 6 'and 7, has a plurality of spaced apart radial recessed or pockets 35 with the edges thereof bevelled, as at 36. The drums on either side of the spacer ring, each have a circle of holes or bores 3l arranged in spacedA relation with each other and designed to receive cylindrical plungers 38 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Each plunger has on its face a, protruded portion'or block 39 which is of the same conguration as the shape of the pockets 35 with suiiicient clearance to allow the blocks to freely enter and exit their respective pockets. 'These plungers andintegral blocks are each urged toward the spacer ring 3| by their respective compression springs lili so that the blocks'will always be in their respective pocketsuntil the torque difference betweenjthe spacer ring and the drums 32'and 33 is great enough to cause the blocks to withdraw from their pockets and slide along and .over the bevelled edges 36; Until this torque difference is great enough, the shaft. I0, ring 3|, and drums 32 and 33* turn to gether in synchronism.' i

The drums 32 and 33 are free for movement Y for a limited distance axially along the shaft vII) when unlocked by the pawls 4I, these pawls having conical ends and slidable in their respective bores 42 which extend from the bore of the shaft into the drums, as illustrated. The outer peripheral surface of each drum is provided with Ya bronze or other suitable friction band 43 of even thickness aand which is of frusto-conical shape.-

The drum 32 is partly surrounded by a cup-like hub element 46 which is integral with the gear 45, the gear being journalled onto the shaft I0 for normal free wheeling thereon by the needle rollers 46. The drum 33 is partly enveloped by the cup-like hub element 41j which is integral with the gear 48, this gear also being supported upon the shaft by needle rollers as indicatedat 69, and thus providing a normal free Wheeling connection between the shaft and the gear.

Each hub 44 and 41, at a portion thereof about the shaft, is provided with an annular open chamto rotate with the shaft when certain torque con cli-tions exist and which will be revealed later.

The driven shaft II inthe, lower part of the chamber 2" is journal-,led to the,y supportingv fra-mes 2 and 4 by the ballbearine members 535 and 55 respectively. Mounted, uponand keyedto Ythis shaft II are the gears land, as shown,V the gear 5T being inmesh withv the gear 48, but the gear 53 is not in mesh` with the gear 45 asV these two gearsare in mesh with anidler'geav 5.9', See Fig. 3; The idler gear 59; is iournalled on' a short shaft 30 through the ball bearing members El and 62. By this; arrangement, the shaftv I'I is made to rotate in either direction depending upon whether the hub 44 or the 'hub '111 is in operation. The housing or shell bulge 63A protects the idler gear and its associated parts. A1164 and 65 are provided any suitable type ofl gland to keep the oil within the chamber IIfas. this chamber is maintained substantiallyv fullofengine oil.

Operation As shown in Fig. i, the control rodII is positioned so as to place, the drums 32 and 33 in a neutral relation with` respect to the hubsl 44 and l, that is, the hubs are not rotating while the drive shaft l is rotating; a Rotation of this shaft rotates the spacer ring 3l and the drums 32 and 33 since they are in mesh withthe vspacer ring because of the position .of the plungers 38; these plungers alwaysl engaging, the pocketsV 35. of the ring when there is not sufficient Vtorque being transmitted'to force the plungers from, the pockets. v j .Y l

When the controlv rod II is shifted, for in-` stance, to the right, the, pawls lllv in the drum 33. will fall into the depression 2I of thel shaft and free the drum 33 so that it can be shifted to the right by force of the compression springsI 40, thereof; when. this action takes place, the torque of the druml 33 is transferred to the hub 4T and hence the gears 48 and ElendY tothe driven shaft y tongues of the plungers will slip from their pockets in the ring 3| and transfer all the torque to the hub 4'| through the over-running rollers 5| which become .wedged between the shaft I and the inner peripheral surfaces 50 of the hub 41. It takes a greater torque to accomplish this last action so as to assure a positive grip between the shaft and the hub 33.

The V-grooved disc 3|, keyed to drive shaft, is for the purpose of. eliminating the shock while engaging the line of torque from one speedY to another. The grooves are so designed that when they reach their maximum capacity of torque, they will release the spring loaded cups 33 and are thus released from transmitting any further torque. From there on, the conical clutch drum shifts its full torque tothe over-running clutch comprising the set of rollers which are equally spaced between the forks 52' of the drum. This is necessary because it takes all the force of the drums to impinge the rollers between the drive and driven members. The line of torque transmitted from the drive shaft I0 to the synchronizing ring 3| is transferred to the spring loaded plungers slidable within drums. This combination ls used as a synchronizing mechanism and is, therefore, only used up to about 150 foot pounds torque coupled to a 250 horsepower motor. At the time that it reaches its maximum torque it then releases its torque through the synchronizer ring and plungers. The corneal clutch or drum then transfers its torque to the over-running roller clutch 5| which takes care of any overload.

When at a maximum torque, nearly all of the torque is released through the synchronizing disc. The cone clutch or drum then transmits its torque from the synchronizing disc to the overrunning clutch lookup. This lookup is the result of the rollers 5| impinging upon the set of cams 53-54 associated with the drive shaft. These rollers act as a medium of locking the gears to the drive shaft. This is the third step and nal locking process which takes care of any overload transmitted through the drums. The explanation of this, is that the synchronizing disc must rst be released before the third step can be applied because it takes practically all the torque transmitted through the drum which is between 160 to 170 foot pounds to impinge the rollers between cam and hub because of the angle of the cam surface 53-54. This is necessary because if the cam would lock without the assistance of the drum, the rollers would not release when under a full load or full power of the motor. It is possible to release the overrunning rollers by simply releasing the drum. This has been proved many times under severe tests. The drums are designed for a capacity of 150 foot pounds torque using a spring pressure of only 500 pounds.

The dual clutching mechanism may be better expressed as follows: As soon as the pawls 4| are released, the drum is shifted to bring its conical surface into frictional contact with the tapered surface of the hub 4l. These two elements are, therefore, clutched together and the drum is turned slightly with the driven shaft Il. Torque is transmitted to the driven shaft and that which is transmitted to the drum is sufficient to force the rollers 5| up one of the inclined sides of all the valleys 53, note Fig. 4, and thus become impinged or wedged so as to establish a locked driving relation between the shaft and the hub 41. This driving relation would not be 6 Y possible without the rst mentioned clutching action between the drum 33 and the hub 41. This is because the rollers 5| will not roll up the inclined sides of the valleys 53 in the shaft unless they are forced to .climb by the torque transmitted to the drum. Without this torque transmission, the rollers will simply turn in their valleys unless the said inclined sides are but slightly inclined, in which case, they will probably roll up the inclined sides but will not roll back again and the shaft will not be unclutched or freed when the control rod I1 is operated to return the pawls 4| in their respective sockets of the drum 33. This dual clutching means is a necessary operation for the reason that one of the clutches serves to force the rollers up the inclined sides of their grooves and the other, to make the necessary driving relation between the torque drum 33 and the shaft. l

To reverse the direction of the shaft Il, the control rod I1 is shifted to the left so that the gears 45, 59 and 58 are put into operation through the action of the pawls 4| and plungers 38 in the drum 32 and the wedging action of the rollers 5| within the hub 44. This method of transmitting power through either rotary direction of the driven shaft eliminates all possible shock upon the forward and reversing mechanism automatically in a simple and dependable manner.

Itis, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of form, style, design and construction of the whole or any part of the specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the limitations clearly expressed in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device for securing a power transmitting element to its shaft, a shaft having a bore opening to one end thereof, a rst element having means journallingit to the shaft, an annu- 1 lar chamber in the first element adjacent the shaft, a plurality of spaced apart rollers in the chamber, a plurality of shallow grooves a-lined around the shaft and open to the chamber` a second element concentric with the shaft and having extensions therefrom entering the chamber and between the rollers, means on the first and second elements for frictionally engaging one anothena pawl slidable radially in the shaft and exposed to the bore of the shaft and also partially slidable in a portion of the second element, means shiftable in the bore of the shaft for allowing the pawl to be moved to release the second element, and pressure means to shift the second element when free.

2. In a device for transmitting positive power comprising a shaft, and a pair of cooperating elements concentric with the shaft, said elements having tapered frictional contact so that one can rotate the other when shifted together, one of the elements consisting of a hub journalled on the shaft having an annular chamber with wedgeing-like means for gripping the shaft, and the other element consisting of a rotor with means extending therefrom in contact with the wedgelike means, means passing through the shaftfor locking and unlocking the rotor to the shaft, and spring urged cup means constantly urging the rotor toward the hub for the purposes described.

3. In a device for transmitting power from one shaft to another in direct and in reverse direcaces-,eis

tion, a shaft, a spacer ring the shaft. and 4concentric therewith, a clutch drum on .each side of the ring and concentric with the shaft, plungers under pressure sldablje in .each `drum and arranged in a circular path, a plurality or `plunger pockets on each side oi the ring and arranged in Ya circular path to register with theplungei path of the drums sol as to receive end portions of the plungers for frictionally holding the drums and ringA in synchronous rotation, pawl means in the shaft'extendingv into their respective drums for latchin-g and unlatchi'ng them with thel shaft, a bevelled circumference on each drum, a hub unit for each drum having bevelled under surfaces for engaging the circumference ofy its respective drum when released, roller wedge-like locking means for each hubr unit adjacent its shaft which operate to grip the shaft when in Contact with its respective drum.

4. In a device for transmitting power from one shaft to anotherv shaft, a disc-like element connected to one of the shafts having a plurality of openl pockets. on both sidesV thereof, a drum means adjacent to and coupled to the element when transmitting low torques and adapted to he shifted slightly along said one of the shafts, Ya hub unit adjacent the means and journalied on the said one of the shafts, said unit having anannular ange with und-er fric-tional surfaces: for engaging a portion of the drum 'means when shifted, a piurality of roller locking means coacting between the unit and the said one of the shafts for causing positive vwedge-.like connection between the said one oi the shafts and the unitV when the unit is under hightorque conditions.

5. The'device recited in Vclaim d wherein the unit and all the recited means thereof are positioned, as an operative set, at one side'of the recited element, and a similar set positioned. at

Vthe other side of the element V having like ccnnection with the said-l one or the. shafts, and an exterior control device havingmeans passing through the said onev of the shafts with means for making contact with the drum means. on both sidesof the disc-like element.

6. In a device for transmitting power from a first shaft toa second shaft, a disc-like element connected to the rst shaft, a drum means adjacent to and coupled tothe element and adapt;- ed toA he shifted axiallyl along the rst shaft, a huh unit acl-jacent the means .and journalled on the rst shaft-said unit having friction means for engaging a portion of the drum means, when shifted', and locking means coacting between the unit and the rst shaft for causing positive wedge-like connection between it and the unit when the unit is under greater torque conditions when transferred from the drum means to the hub unit, and releasing mechanism for the drum means, and a control means passing axially through the first shaft to operate the mechani'srn so that when the control meansv is moved' to a predetermined position, the mechanism releases the locking means for engagement with the hnb unit. i

7. In a device for transmitting power from one shaft to another shaft, a shaft, a disc-like eleinentconnected tothe shaft,-a drum meansadjacent to and coupled to the element and adapt-- ed to be shifted axial-ly along thel shaft, a `huh unit adjacent the means and journalled onthe shaft, said' unit having friction means for engaging a portion ofthe? drum means, when shi-.ftedf, locking means. coactng between theunit and'.

the shaft for causing positiveI wedge-like connec- 4 tion between it and the unit when the unit is under greater torque conditions when transferred from the drum means" to the hub unit, thesdrum means including a bodyhavingits perimetrical surface bevell'ed .and one side thereof provided with a circle of plungers urged toward the discing along the shaft tomake contact with'thehub.

9.V In a device for transmitting power from'one shaft to another shaft, a shaft, a disc-like-element Vconnected to the shaft, a drum means adjacent to and coupled to the element and adapted to. be shifted axially along the shaft, a hub unit adjacent the means and journalled on the shaft, said unit having friction means for engaging a portion oi the drum means, when shifted, locking means co'action between the unit and the shaft for causing. positive wedge-likeconnection between it and the unit when the unit is under full load torqueV conditions when load is transferred from the drum means to the hub unit, the drum means. comprising a disc. having a tapered periphery and the hub unit-having a tapered vunder surface so thatv said tapered periphery and surface grip one another when pressed into frictional contact, a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending from the drum means into an annularV space between the unit and shaft, the shaft having surface'serrati'ons facing the annular space, said locking means comprising a plurality of rollers intermediate the unit and shaft which ride inthe valleys of the serrationsuntil impinged against partsk ofthe seri-ations and the finger elements. Y

143. In aV clutch mechanism adapted to operate a driven shaft in either direction, the mechanism including a drive shaft with a disc element. keyed thereto and having radial grooves on both sides thereof, a pair of clutch drums Von the drive shaft adapted to beset or released by manual control means, said drums being'spacedkfrom eachother and surrounding a major portion of the disc element, a plurality of spring pressed cups in each, drum which areV continuously urged toward the disc element and adapted' to enter the grooves thereof and place either one? of the drums in Y synchronism with the disc element when-the drive shaft is rotated and providing the.. control means is set in a predetermined position, a'set of shiftable pawls in eac-h drum which pass through portions of the drive shaft andi which. key or unkey each drum with the drive shaft,V

and a pair of spaced apart hubs: with integral gears that `are journalled on the drive shaft, each hub. having a cup-like cavity which formsv a chamber for theV drums and disc element and has meansf'or Yfrictionally engaging its respectiveadjoining drum.; each hub having an annuflar cham; ber surrounding the drive shaft which has an u-ndulated Wall, a plurality of free operable rollers in each hub chamber, a plurality of'iingers eX'- tending from each drum and positioned between the` rollers of its respective hub, either drum when released from the dri-ve shaft transmitting the torque of the disc -elemen-tfto ,itsy respective hub to effect a primary lock-up--of a fractionalV 9 power delivery from the drive shaft to the gear of this particular hub, but upon increased torque transfer the rollers of the clutch hub are impinged between the drive shaft and the hub so as to effect a final lock-up and thus full power delivery from the drive shaft to the gear of the hub in action.

ARNOLD H. JESSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 677,615 Arnold July 2, 1901 844,390 Newton Feb. 19, 1907 Number Number Germany Mar. 1, 1934 

